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Expansive Rock: Large-Scale Structure in the music of Pink Floyd"
WWW.Brain-Damage.co.uk ^ | Tuesday, 20 January 2015 | Ed Lopez-Reyes

Posted on 01/20/2015 12:37:08 PM PST by Sheapdog

Pink Floyd academic, composer, and pianist Gilad Cohen's studies of the band, along with performances of Cohen's compositions, will be featured in events held in Illinois, at the University of Chicago, and Northwestern University, in early February.

Cohen [right] will be giving two lectures, titled "Large-Scale Structure in the music of Pink Floyd: 'Dogs' and 'Shine On'" and "Large-Scale Structure in the music of Pink Floyd: 'Dogs'". They will each offer insight on a variety of subjects related to these songs as well as two unique opportunities for discussion.

Northwestern University's lecture will consist of an expansive analysis of 'Dogs' and 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' followed by a discussion with Cohen. The lecture at University of Chicago will concentrate on 'Dogs' but will consist of a fuller discussion, including speakers from that institution's music department. "That being said, both events will probably be modified according to the amount and interest of the audience attending, so the format and content are pretty open along those lines," stated Cohen. "All lectures are about my Ph.D. dissertation, which analyzes three large-scale pieces by Pink Floyd: 'Echoes,' 'Shine On,' and 'Dogs.'"

Cohen recently completed his doctoral studies at Princeton University, in Princeton, New Jersey and is now an Assistant Professor of Music Performance and Theory at Ramapo College in Mahwaw, New Jersey. His dissertation advances the argument that "although the large-scale song (single tracks of over fifteen-minutes) was a quite common phenomenon in British rock of the 1970s, these three Pink Floyd pieces have a unique format, since they employ very little material and stretch it for long time."

The pianist, composer, and professor believes Pink Floyd's format on these long pieces set their work apart from bands like ELP, Genesis, Jethro Tull, and Yes, among others: "This model makes it very challenging to create a successful long piece of music while maintaining enough variety, direction, and cohesiveness. My research examines how these three pieces cope with this challenge."

Despite the academic substance of his work, Cohen has drawn interest from a wide audience that spans beyond academia: "My first article about (this subject), which was aimed at a non-professional audience and thus included very few musical terms and notated examples, was published in Israel in November as part of a book of Pink Floyd articles. A related article that I wrote about the way time is being used (or manipulated) in The Endless River, compared to previous albums, was published online by The Conversation and other leading websites." Cohen added: "At the Conference I produced at Princeton University with my friend, composer Dave Molk, it became obvious that Pink Floyd fans – even those with very little musical background – are very open for and curious about such research and analysis."

In addition to the two lectures, there will be performances of Cohen's composition work: "The Chicago Ensemble will play two concerts with a program that includes my piece Ten Variations for oboe, piano, and a string quartet." The piece was one of the winning compositions in their "Discover America" competition. Cohen describes it as "a 15-minute piece that showcases my musical influences, ranging from Ravel and Shostakovich to Led Zeppelin and Alice in Chains, including a coloristic quote from 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'." In 2012, Ten Variations won the top prize at the Franz Reinl Composition Contest in Vienna, Austria and has been performed in Austria and the United States by several ensembles since. "I'm grateful to The Chicago Ensemble for performing this piece, and I'm very excited to be able to attend one of these concerts!"


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Chit/Chat; Hobbies; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: gilmour; music; pinkfloyd
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To: Skooz

I would give a strong nod to the Atom Heart Mother Suite, as an orchestral piece, it was music for classical musicians familiar with 20th Century compositions. As such, it made a big splash with orchestral composers.

I suspect that it sort of rehabilitated Orff’s Carmina Burana, tainted from his Nazi connection, along with many other dramatic choral works.


21 posted on 01/20/2015 2:15:22 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative." -Obama, 09-24-11)
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To: dfwgator
But by far, Animals is Gilmour’s finest moment in Floyd.

I don't know... maybe. "Time" on Dark Side of The Moon... the solo there... that may be my all time favorite guitar tone.

22 posted on 01/20/2015 2:17:34 PM PST by kjam22 (my music video "If My People" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74b20RjILy4)
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To: Sheapdog

I went to a Pink Floyd concert with Mr. Mercat back in the day. I saw a lot of really sick young people on lots of drugs. It was very unpleasant. Years later Mr. M took our teenage son. I was not happy.


23 posted on 01/20/2015 2:20:18 PM PST by Mercat
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To: FreedomPoster
I did an infinite loop of Echoes on my Dad's reel to reel for Halloween. Got some red glass leftover from Mom's stained glass class, put it in a box with two round holes cut in it and a light bulb inside for scary red wolf eyes. Made a cardboard coffin for the lawn and a hangman's noose on a tree limb. I did all that when I was a teenager.

Years later I would get introduced at parties to someone a bit younger than me from my neighborhood who would say "your house was the greatest on Halloween!" It blew me away that anyone remembered or knew I was the guy who lived there. I wasn't trying to outdo anyone just having fun. lol

24 posted on 01/20/2015 2:25:49 PM PST by TigersEye (ISIS is the tip of the spear. The spear is Islam.)
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To: Squawk 8888

I was reading some of the comments earlier. Not a lot of fans of Pink Floyd.

Oh well....


25 posted on 01/20/2015 2:36:19 PM PST by henkster (Do I really need a sarcasm tag?)
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To: henkster

They made some superb music but Roger Waters is quite vile.


26 posted on 01/20/2015 2:38:42 PM PST by Squawk 8888 (Will steal your comments & post them on Twitter)
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To: dfwgator

I agree.


27 posted on 01/20/2015 2:42:35 PM PST by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
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To: Squawk 8888

I personally thought Animals was their best album. Some folks here say it rips capitalism, and I suppose Waters intended it that way. I look at it as human nature. Pigs, Dogs and Sheep are in every culture and political system.


28 posted on 01/20/2015 3:01:35 PM PST by henkster (Do I really need a sarcasm tag?)
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To: dfwgator

100%


29 posted on 01/20/2015 3:20:18 PM PST by henkster (Do I really need a sarcasm tag?)
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To: henkster

It pretty much was Waters’ take on Animal Farm.


30 posted on 01/20/2015 4:13:40 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: Sheapdog

If I don’t overlook the political bent of some of the artists that make up the sound track to my life I would live in virtual silence. The artists seemed to not espouse their views as loudly when they were coming up as they do now that they are established, it was more art then more politics now.

That said, Dark side of the moon and Wish you were here were ground breaking as was Animals, though not one of my favorites. My tastes run more psychedelic Sid Barrett era ( Obscured by clouds ) less the later techno.


31 posted on 01/20/2015 4:48:00 PM PST by VTenigma (The Democratic party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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To: henkster

I agree.

Animals was always my favorite of their albums; maybe my favorite album of all time.

Listening to it recently, it is even more impressive than it was way back then. It is excellent in every way.


32 posted on 01/20/2015 6:46:40 PM PST by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
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To: bk1000
When I went to school, I used to go to classes during the day and listen to Pink Floyd at night.

These days, you go to school to listen to Pink Floyd.

I was born 30 years too early!

33 posted on 01/20/2015 7:09:33 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: TigersEye

When it comes to animals in music this has always been my favorite piece...


I found this piece much easier on the ears.

Adrian Belew Peaceable Kingdom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYR70Kc9KB0&index=5&list=PLRsKTJ-YEAI5AAAdF6o7luBc9CNgwjpj2


34 posted on 01/21/2015 4:33:59 PM PST by Zeneta (Thoughts in time and out of season.)
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To: Zeneta

That is definitely mellow. Each to his own but that’s an audio sleeping pill to me.


35 posted on 01/21/2015 4:59:13 PM PST by TigersEye (ISIS is the tip of the spear. The spear is Islam.)
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